Citation needed.

Kenneth Branagh in Talks to Direct 'Thor'
Marvel is determined to get this one made

If you hadn't heard yet Matthew Vaughn is not directing Marvel's Thor, it is the second time he has been attached to a superhero flick and ultimately ended up not helming the feature. X3 was the first one and he went on to direct Stardust instead. However, that isn't stopping Marvel from persuing the project and we now learn Kenneth Branagh of all people may be the man to take up the reins.
Branagh is negotiating to direct the flick, which is already expected to hit theaters on June 4, 2010 with a distributor to be set shortly. Branagh isn't a surprising choice because he can't direct, he's a surprising choice because he isn't known for directing action. As Variety points out the last time he directed an action flick was actually his directorial debut in 1989 with Henry V a film that earned Branagh an Oscar nomination for acting and directing and won an Oscar for costume design.

Of course, we shouldn't be too surprised with indie helmers becoming common place with blockbuster superhero success thanks to Christopher Nolan (Batman Begins, The Dark Knight), Jon Favreau (Iron Man) and Gavin Hood (X-Men Origins: Wolverine). The obvious appeal of an indie helmer would be their attention to detail outside of effects and a greater desire to focus on character and story, it certainly worked for the Batman and Iron Man franchises with Wolverine yet to be proven.

Mark Protosevich penned the script for Thor, which follows disabled medical student Donald Blake, who has an alter ego as the hammer-wielding Norse god Thor.

Branagh will next be seen onscreen in Tom Cruise's Valkyrie this December. Branagh last directed Sleuth starring Jude Law and Michael Caine in 2007.

Daniel Craig turned down Thor



As Quantum Of Solace heads for release, it seems that there's one blockbuster Daniel Craig won't be a part of...

As the promotional tour for Quantum of Solace continues, it's now emerged that Daniel Craig was offered the role of Thor in the upcoming movie adaptation. The film, which Kenneth Branagh is believed to be attached to direct, is set to go before the cameras next year, in time for a 2010 release date.

According to IESB, Marvel approached Craig to offer him the role, but the actor turned it down. You suspect that Craig is offered an abundance of such roles right now, and according to the report, the actor joked that the power trip of playing Bond and Thor would be a little too much.

McKidd Talks Thor
Rome star talks to IGN about the Marvel movie.

December 2, 2008 - IGN caught up with Rome and Journeyman star Kevin McKidd at last night's after party for the premiere of Punisher: War Zone, starring McKidd's Rome co-star Ray Stevenson, where we asked the actor if he was still in the running for Marvel's live-action Thor movie.

McKidd confirmed for IGN that he's still a contender for the lead role and that there's been "a lot of back and forth" about the project of late, but that nothing has been determined. He acknowledged that Kenneth Branagh is directing it, a choice that makes him even more excited about the film.

McKidd stressed that the part that he's up for is indeed that of Thor and not a supporting role. This contradicts what McKidd told us last year when he suggested that Thor might be played by a younger actor and that he would be up for a different role instead.

Someone who will look good with platinum/light blonde hair and blue eyes and good physique will be suitable to play Thor.

EXCLUSIVE: Kenneth Branagh Breaks Silence On ‘Thor,’ Says Casting Talk Is Premature



It’s been over two months since word broke that Marvel was courting Kenneth Branagh to direct their next big-screen re-launch of one of their cherished heroes, Thor. And since then we’ve heard nary a peep from Branagh himself. At today’s junket for “Valkyrie,” MTV News caught up with the actor/filmmaker and of course brought up the project.

“I am directing “Thor” or “The Mighty Thor’ as you might like to call it,” he said with a smile before clarifying what the title of the film will be. “I think it will be ‘Thor.’”

MTV has spoken to other writers about why Branagh would be such a good fit for the hero. But here was finally an opportunity to hear from Branagh about what appealed to him about the project. So what’s the appeal of “Thor,” Kenneth? “To work on a story about one of the immortals, Gods, extraordinary beings, inter-dimensional creatures,” he enthused.

He continued excitedly, “There’s science fiction and science fact and fantasy all woven into one. It’s based on Norse legends which Marvel sort of raided in a brilliant way.

So who will play Branagh’s hero? Asked about the rumors of Kevin McKidd being up for the role, the director waved it off as premature speculation.

“There’s been lots of talk [about casting] — I sound like a politician — but we are too early at this stage. We’re getting the story and the visual effects together and all of that is very exciting. Someone sensational is going to play the part but it is early days.”

Just because Branagh hasn’t worked on a project of this scale since “Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein,” fear not. This “Thor” promises to be as large as the character would seem to call out for. “It’s a chance to tell a big story on a big scale,” said Branagh. “It’s a human story right in the center of a big epic scenario.”

Branagh’s keeping mum for the most part but are you liking what he has to say so far? Is he the best director for “Thor”?

Branagh Confirms Thor



Although it was a pretty much done deal that Kenneth Branagh was to direct THOR, the actor finally confirmed the news himself, and had the following to say about the project:

We're getting the story and visual effects together and all of that is very exciting.

Many eyebrows were raised when Branagh was announced as the film's director, however if you think about it, the choice falls in line with other superhero films of late, and their orientation towards more intelligent, thought-provoking fare. If that is indeed the direction Marvel wants to take with THOR, than Branagh is most definitely an inspired, and fitting choice.

Now on to who will play the titular character--a question that has become one of the most hottly contested on the web. Personally I think they will cast a relative unknown, but I also predicted Colin Hanks would play the next Batman before Bale was cast, so what do I know.

Extra Tidbit: Are you guys more excited for THOR or CAPTAIN AMERICA?

good physique , but take note that movie size is usually 1/2 that of comic size. Wolverine in the comics is supposed to look like a 5ft Triple H. Pretty much impossible.

Someone beefy and muscled would make a good Thor - something like Hugh Jackman's physique in X-Men.

The Rock is most suitable....hehe...but he has to wear a blonde wig...kakaka

IESB Has Got Updates on Marvel's Big Screen Adaptation of THOR!

Marvel is bringing THOR to the big screen come July 16, 2010 with Kenneth Branagh attached to direct.

IESB did a script review on Mark Protosevich's draft awhile back in August 2007. Of course there have been I am sure several re-writes since that time, as scripts do, but the script dealt only with Thor in his native land of Asgard, his father issues with Odin and his battle with his brother turned evil-doer Loki with hopes of Asgard domination with no mention of the modern world.

We are now getting word that there has been an addition to the end of the Asgard driven Thor story that very much gives credence to further Thor stories and how Marvel plans to bring everything together for the Avengers film due out in 2011 a question even Tony Stark himself pondered, Downey Jr. said to MTV, "The danger you run with colliding all these worlds is [director] Jon [Favreau] was very certain that 'Iron Man' should be set in a very realistic world. Nothing that happened in 'Iron Man' is really outside the realm of possibility. Once you start talking about Valhalla and supersized super soldiers and jolly green giants it warrants much further discussion."

A reliable source tells the IESB that the character of Donald Blake has been added to the end of the script. Let me reiterate that he wasn't there before, the script was set entirely in the land of the Norse Gods.

The introduction of the character is essential to how Marvel will tie Thor into the Avengers that is set in contemporary Tony Stark/Hulk timeframe. It explains how the actual Thor film will be set in the ancient time of the Norse Gods and how they will subsequently bring the character into a modern time with Donald Blake discovering the magical Norse hammer Mjolnir and turning into Thor.

Now is Thor sent to live amongst the humans with no memory of his life as Thor until he finds the hammer as in the comic book? I would have to assume so but this will all happen after we see Thor in his native land battling other Norse Gods in Asgard in order for the audience to learn his backstory.

Now can they explain all this using an epilogue approach a la Samuel L. Jackson in Iron Man with the main story still focusing on the Thor character in Asgard or does the Blake character and his storyline have a bigger role?

Don't know for sure, but he's been added says our source. Take it as a rumor if you need to but it makes complete sense.

We've also been told that director Kenneth Branagh will have an acting part in the film as well - a throw back to Jon Favreau's role in Iron Man. Guess Louis Leterrier missed that boat as he didn't appear in The Incredible Hulk.

One more thing, no J. Michael Straczynski is not doing the current re-write of the script, he has confirmed this repeatedly.

The Rock 
Can't act. If The Rock acted it I wouldn't watch it. Name one movie The Rock has done that's even half decent

what i wonder how they will manage to transform a ordinary sized guy (dr blake) into a 6' 6" muscle-bound god of thunder (ie if they follow the origins)...will there be two actors playing the two "roles"?